Top Stories

Renowned as the first U.S. fighter to reach supersonic speeds in straight-and-level flight, the North American F–100 Super Sabre grew in infamy because of its unforgiving handling characteristics, including the so-called "Sabre dance," that claimed many aviators' lives. But the allure of the single-seat, sweptwing fighter called as loud as its afterburner, making it a coveted assignment among Air Force pilots in training in the 1950s and '60s. Only those at the top of their pilot class were selected for the F–100, and then they had to survive training. Some of these men share their stories of flying the F-100 in the Vietnam War.

The spirit of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders—and the rumble of a North American B-25 Mitchell bomber's radial engines—reverberated through AOPA's National Aviation Community Center at Maryland's Frederick Municipal Airport Nov. 6. Larry Kelley, owner of the B-25J Panchito, flew Raiders' family members and Chinese diplomats in the meticulously restored World War II bomber. Read more...

AOPA has a clear message to teens: You Can Fly. Hundreds gathered for AOPA's High School Aviation STEM Symposium to discuss how to interest teens in aviation or aerospace careers. Also this week, honoring veterans through service—find out how Veterans Airlift Command Founder Walt Fricke is paying it forward. Meet the crew that brings Tabitha May, the last DC-3 to fly scheduled passenger service in the United States, to life at airshows. And, the first DeLand Sport Aviation Village and Showcase caters to the fun, affordable side of aviation. Watch AOPA Live This Week®, Nov. 10...

You Can Fly

Nearly 200 educators shared their passion for teaching students about aviation during the second annual AOPA High School Aviation STEM Symposium at Seattle's Museum of Flight Nov. 6 and 7. The symposium brought together educators, aviation pioneers, and business leaders, paving a path of study for future aviators, mechanics, engineers, and more. Attendees experienced the excitement for aviation programs firsthand when students from nearby Raisbeck Aviation High School gave them high fives during a tour of the facility. Read more...

The morning after Donald Trump was elected president, the U.S. Secret Service requested a temporary flight restriction over his Manhattan residence, restricting access to the popular Hudson River Corridor. AOPA immediately began working with the FAA to restore access while still providing the increased security needed for Trump. Just over 24 hours after the TFR was issued, the FAA and Secret Service reached an agreement to amend the TFR. Read more...

AOPA Fly-Ins

Safety seminars are one of the top reasons more than 42,000 pilots have said they flock to AOPA Fly-Ins around the country, and their dedication to safety is evidenced far beyond their participation in hangar talks on the ground. Since 2014 when AOPA launched the regional events, members' careful attention to flight procedures has produced a perfect safety record with no accidents or serious incidents. That’s with more than 6,000 aircraft operations since 2014 and more than 1,600 this year. Read more...

Technique and Safety

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student Jackson Wieland—the third quarter winner in the AOPA Air Safety Institute's "Learn & Earn Safety Challenge"—started flight training when he was 16. Wieland's active participation in the 2016 challenge won him a Garmin GDL 39 Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast receiver for the iPad. He shares about his studies, school, and future aviation endeavors. Read more...

A vacuum pump failure in instrument conditions can quickly turn into a full-fledged in-flight emergency leading to spatial disorientation. In Accident Case Study: Emergency Management, the AOPA Air Safety Institute examines how flawed decisions and lack of a conservative approach contributed to the unfortunate outcome of a flight riddled with mistakes, miscommunications, and missed opportunities. Watch the video, brought to you by AOPA Insurance Services...

If you fly at night, you'll appreciate this video from AOPA Premier Partner PilotWorkshops in which a pilot and CFI simulate a dead-stick landing at night, and debrief the outcome. Combining the flight with a thorough debrief provides a valuable learning experience, especially because it is impossible to accurately emulate this maneuver in flight without excessive risk. Watch the video...

Regardless of how advanced the panel may be, aircraft need a pilot mentally aboard. Enjoy riding along with the AOPA Air Safety Institute's iPanel Pilot Safety Announcement, which takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the modern electronic cockpit's endless opportunities for distraction. Watch the video...

Advocacy

AOPA supports the goals of a new rule that updates training requirements for the Mitsubishi MU-2B twin turboprop effective Nov. 7, the association said in formal comments submitted to the FAA.
Read more...

An update of the FAA's web-based Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) system should reduce the processing time involved in acquiring a student pilot certificate from two weeks to less than a week by making a temporary, printable certificate available after a short interval for security vetting. The temporary ticket will be valid for 120 days, during which time the permanent student pilot certificate should arrive. Read more...

The FAA has granted AOPA's proposed alternative compliance method to resolve conflicting terms of an airworthiness directive that appeared to force the removal of some engine cylinders well short of their permitted time-in-service if the aircraft had other maintenance performed. Read more...

Owners of private airfields who would like to let other pilots use their strips but have concerns about doing so have a new resource to help answer their questions, thanks to the Recreational Aviation Foundation. Read more...

Technology

On Nov. 8, a pair of full-scale helicopters along with a pair of small drones flew a coordinated mission, each piloted from ground stations. They doused simulated fires and made simulated rescues at an airport in central New York, one of a handful of FAA-designated unmanned aircraft test sites in the country. Read more...

A company better known for iPad mounts and flight bags hopes to bring heavy iron head-up display technology to lighter aircraft. MyGoFlight displayed the third generation of its HUD prototype to flight departments at the National Business Aviation Association meeting in early November. Read more...

Uber, the ride-sharing company that has taken on the taxi industry, now envisions a major disruption of the air taxi industry that could mean thousands of new pilot jobs. The company published a detailed vision of a future that will include on-demand aviation using electric VTOL aircraft flown, at first, by pilots. Read more...

Legacy Part 25 business jets have had few to no Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast options until recent months. However, two well-known avionics companies have announced a variety of solutions for such airplanes. Read more...

Opinion

Opinion Leaders blogger Jolie Lucas asks pilots why the future of embattled Santa Monica Municipal Airport is so important. From concerns about setting a dangerous precedent that could affect all airports to preserving freedoms and protecting community security, pilots explain why Santa Monica's airport—and its future—is important to us all. Read more...

Gear

Flight training students quickly learn they need a whole new set of gadgets and study materials to help them make the most of their lessons. Casey Jung, 18, graduated from high school this year with 50 hours of flight training, all ready for the private pilot practical test. See what gear helped her through flight training, and get ideas for ways to support the student pilot in your life. Read more...

Travel

The poster child of Montana backcountry airstrips is Schafer Meadows, and few other airstrips even rate a second thought with many pilots. Meadow Creek, overlooked by many, is just a few miles south and is equally stunning. Crowds are nonexistent, and the fishing, hiking, and camping are unparalleled elsewhere in Montana and even Idaho. Read more and view a slideshow...

Financial

Six days after Charles Lindbergh made history with the first nonstop transatlantic flight, May 20 and 21, 1927, he lost his helmet. Nearly 90 years later, the helmet has resurfaced, and it will be sold Nov. 16 at a Paris auction house. The simple sheepskin-lined flying helmet could sell for as much as $88,000. Read more...

"We want to disrupt and democratize," said Kenny Dichter, founder and CEO of private-membership, on-demand charter firm Wheels Up. So far, the strategy is working, with Dichter saying that he sees a total of one to two million companies and individuals as the potential membership market. Read more...

Is it possible for an aircraft loan to be structured like a second home mortgage? How should a pilot go about financing the purchase of a partner's half of the airplane? AOPA Aviation Finance President Adam Meredith explains. Read more in this installment of Adam Answers...

Not sure when to buy coverage for an aircraft you are building? Dabbling in flying drones under Part 107 of the federal aviation regulations? Find out how AOPA Insurance Services can get you the coverage you need. Read more...

News and Notes

The first DeLand Sport Aviation Village and Showcase in Florida attracted sparse crowds Nov. 3 through 5, but achieved what an aviation trade show is supposed to do—sell airplanes. A few aircraft sales were made and solid prospects contacted, according to airshow organizer Jana Filip. Read more...

If flying one Boeing jet is a joy, flying all of them must be the thrill of a lifetime. For one lucky Boeing employee, it's just another day on the job. Steve Taylor is Boeing's chief pilot, and is rated in every commercial aircraft the company makes. When he's not making a delivery flight or flying a program on the latest and greatest, he's enjoying Seattle from a general aviation aircraft. Hear what it's like to fly all the big iron, and catch up on the latest headlines in this week's Hangar Talk. Listen to the podcast...

Kristen Dwiggins knew that this might be the day as she practiced takeoffs and landings with her instructor at Sanford, North Carolina's Raleigh Executive Jetport. The AOPA Flight Training Scholarship winner soloed in a Liberty XL2 and is transitioning to a Piper Archer. Read more...

Career Opportunities

Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? AOPA is looking for a government affairs federal and state vice president, Central Southwest regional manager, Great Lakes regional manager, account executive, annual giving manager, donor relations director, high school aviation initiative manager, New York You Can Fly ambassador, aviation technical specialist, UI/front-end developer, and marketing specialist. To learn more about these and other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.

Question of the Week

Question

You've agreed to help a friend at the airport wash and wax his aircraft this weekend. Are there any regulations or other considerations you should be aware of before you begin?

Answer

Washing and waxing an aircraft is considered preventive maintenance, so as a pilot you may assist with washing the aircraft. Some pilot's operating handbooks even cover the washing of aircraft and what steps should be taken prior to, during, and after washing to prevent damage to the aircraft and its systems. If the POH doesn't cover this topic, or if you are at all concerned about what to protect and how, talk to a mechanic. Remembering to remove any protection (such as tape or plugs) after you wash and wax is even more important. Using the correct products for the correct application can save you time and could save you money by preventing corrosion down the road. AOPA's website includes several articles on this topic, including this four-part series. Chapter 6 of the FAA's Aircraft Maintenance Technician Handbook is devoted to cleaning and corrosion control.

Aviation Calendar

Want something to do this weekend? Planning an aviation getaway? See AOPA's enhanced calendar of events. You can filter events by date range, airport ID, state, or region. Before you take off on an adventure, make sure you check our current aviation weather provided by Jeppesen.